What recommendations do you have for someone who had 60 cc fluid drained at 3 weeks post op after drainless tummy tuck?

you definitely need compression.repeat aspirations to prevent reaccumulation is typically needed, so make sure you follow up regularly with your doctor.

Thank you for your question and I am sorry to hear of your seroma issues.  After a seroma aspiration, I would recommend you apply a pressure bandage or reinforce your compression garment to help seal the skin to your stomach muscles where the seroma had been.  Limiting sheering forces (those that cause your skin to rub over your stomach) is also important, such as that from bending and extending as well as rotating at your waist.  Hopefully you will not have an additional seroma develop, but if one does, another aspiration may be needed.  Best wishes!

You had a moderate sized seroma and since seromas tend to recur, best to wear your compression garment and limit strenuous activity. Also, best to follow closely with your operating surgeon so seromas can be drained as necessary. Good luck!!

Sadly, seromas are one of the most common complications with a tummy tuck. Definitely continue with your compression garment. I would advise limiting your activity for now. Discuss with your surgeon when he or she thinks you can return to normal activity. And avoid ice since you are probably still numb in the area and could inadvertently burn your skin. Best, Dr. Nazarian

Thank you for your question. Seromas are the most frequent complication after abdominoplasty. I would definitely recommend you continue compression and try to limit your activity in the short term to prevent a recurrent seroma. I would avoid ice to your abdomen as your sensation has likely not returned to normal and you may damage your skin. Best regards, Dr. Kludt

Compression helps and if the seroma recurs it will need to be drained again.  Limiting activities also helps as does wearing the compression garment. 

 I personally am not a fan of completely drainless tummy tuck.  In my opinion there is a moderate risk for seroma and also patients stay swollen longer. I now perform this procedure with quilting sutures and a single drain that comes out in a week. Patients seems to be more comfortable, the risk for seroma is low, and having one drain for a week is very tolerable. In your case you have some chance for recurrence of the seroma and I suggest you minimize your activity and continue to wear your compression garment. I do not recommend ice to the area as this could decrease blood flow to this area and especially since sensation is currently lower. Please follow the instructions of your plastic surgeon. 

Congratulations on your recent tummy tuck.Once you develop seroma, it may require serial aspiration of the fluid.I would recommend limiting activities and wearing compression garment.Since each plastic surgeon has different surgical and post-surgical protocol, you should ask your plastic surgeon for his/her recommendation.Please follow up with your plastic surgeon closely.Best regards.

Dear Lynne13, I'm sorry to hear about your seroma. Unfortunately, this is a known and common complication from tummy tucks. Unfortunately, there is no absolute way of predicting whether the seroma has completely resolved. Time will tell. I do not recommend ice therapy as sensation is decreased and you could easily damage your skin. Compression will help tremendously as you would be closing any "dead space" with moderate pressure from your garment. In other words, fluid would have no place to accumulate. I hope this helps.

Hello and thank you for your question!Fluid collection is a common side effect post tummy tuck. It is up to the surgeon to determine if drains will be used or not. Some choose to use them on all patients, some do not. If drains are not used and fluid is noticed, sometimes the body can absorb it on its own. But if it doesn't not, then it requires an aspiration. Do not be alarmed or feel you did something wrong. Again, this is common. Going forward, follow that exact instructions of your plastic surgeon and continue to wear your compression garment at all times. Ice is not recommended. Best of luck to you!